Swimming pool construction



NGV. 28, 1961 C, Jr.y RlLEY ETAL 3,010,117

SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION Filed April lO. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l A ORNEY Nov. 28, 1961 c. RILEY ETAL 39030117 SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION A Filed April l0, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Cafe/venus :l P455; W44 r6? Tyan/5N ad Nov. 28, 1961 c. L RILEY vIII' AL SWIMMING Poor. CONSTRUCTION Filed April lO, 1958 muI HN Ill Ill .III

,Humw i NNI JW lIl In d Q s Y NFI R E.E O WIM ...mw A m M @um v cw 6 www Z Illl.

Fiied Apr. lil, 1958, Ser. No. 727,657 2 Claims. (Cl. 4-l72) The present invention relates to a swimming pool construction and rmore particularly to a swimming pool surround and associated Cabana.

The swimming pool associated with a residence has become a national feature. Frequently, however, such pools are either extremely expensive or, on the other hand, are of such flimsy construction as to make them uneconomic.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel swimming pool structure of a simple and inexpensive, and yet of structurally sound, nature which m-ay be installed either above or below ground level.

Another object thereof is the provision of such a structure which incorporates a platform or cabana auxiliary structure.

Still another object thereof is a swimming pool surround which while adaptable to metal construction is nevertheless also easily constructed of wood, and in such a manner as to resist deterioration by `action of the elements, water seepage and the like.

A still further object thereof is the provision of a swimming pool surround which may be adapted to a variety of shapes and yet retain its structural integrity under adverse conditions.

Yet another object thereof is the provision of reinforcing and buttressing means for a pool structure which, while effective, are nevertheless simple and economical.

The above and other objects are attained in the preferred form by means o-f constiucting the Vfour walls of a rectangular pool enclosure of stacked rails separated by spaces positioned at regular intervals along the was, some of the spaces being of graduated length in the direction outwardly normal to the walls `and a greater length towards the bottom than the top of said wal-ls so as to furnish buttresses to support the walls against the outward thrust of water contained within the pool enclosure.

An added feature may be `a raised platform or Cabana structure, the lower side walls of which are interleaved with the side walls of the pool enclosure and the oor of which may like-wise comprise an alternately horizontally spaced arranffement of rails separated by spaces.

Other objects and a -fuller understanding of the present invention may be had by referring to the following detailed description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the foregoing statement of the objects of the invention and the brief summary thereof is intended to generally explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

IG. l is a perspective View of a pool structure embodying the present invention, portion being shown in dotted outline and the coping and pool liner being omitted.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan View taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FlG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a plan view off section of the Cabana oor adjacent to line 6 6 of FIG. l.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along ylines 7--7 of FIG. 6.

FG. 8 is a plan View of another embodiment of the pool structure.

FIG. 9 is ya fragmentary yside elevation of the cabana structure illustrating the arrangement of the steps and door opening in one of the side walls.

Referring now to the drawings and to the preferred form of the invention shown in FIGS. l-7, it comprises a rectangular pool enclosure or surround 10 at one end of which there is incorporated a raised cabana structure l1. The 'four sfide walls l2., i3, 14 and l5 of the pool enclosure it) each comprise vertically stacked, elongated Wall elements or rails lo separated vertically by spacer blocks 17, both rails and blocks being preferably of wood. Spacer blocks l7 may be positioned at convenient horizontal intervals. Vertically aligned bores 19 in rails lo and spacer blocks i7 provide an elongated bore through which bolt 19 extends, the uppermost and lowest rails having receses 2G and 2l in which the head of bolt i9 and the corresponding nut Z2 are seated. The blocks and rails are tightly compressively secured when the nut is tightened. If pool surround lil be deemed to have the dimensions of 32 x 16 then said spacer blocks would be located at intervals of 4 feet. For such a surround, rails i6 maybe of 3" x 11/2 lumber and wall height may be 42". As shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, there extends outwardly from side walls l2 and t3 buttreses l having a section in the form of truncated triangles. Each buttress is formed of spacer blocks 17', 17, 17 etc. which increase in length from top outwardly from said rails. The outermost ends 23', 23 and .TS-3 etc. of said blocks are bevelled `in a parallel plane as are the corresponding ends of spacer elements 24 positioned lbetween said blocks proximate their outer ends. The outer portions of said blocks and elements are provided with angled `aligned bores parallel to said bevellled ends, through which bolt 19 extends and is tightened by nut 22 to secure said outer portions. Such buttresses prevent the `side walls from bulging or giving way under lateral water pressure when the pool is filled.

At the corners, the side walls interlock, ie. the rails forming each wall alternate with the rails of the other (see FIG. 5). Hence no spacers are needed Iat such places. However, the rails `are apentured at corners to form bores in which ybolt l@ and its matching nut 22 are employed to tightly secure the elements to each other. Rails E6 may `overhang the corners to form corner tabs 25 either for decorative purposes or for another pur pose explained below.

When the pool enclosure is erected above groundtie straps 26 made of steel aluminum, wood or the like may extend between opposing side walls 12 and 13 to afford additional reinforcement means to resist lateral water pressure. They lare not needed when the surround is positioned in an excavation since concrete will then be poured about buttresses 18 to anchor them.

To complete the pool a `durable watertight liner 27 of polyethylene or other suitable material is spread to ex- -tend between the side walls land yalong the inner surface of the same being secured to the top rails lo thereof by a coping 28 which may be bolted or otherwise fastened to said top rails. Additional conventional anchorage of the bottom of said pool liner or of the side thereof to said side walls may be provided. A wall ladder 29 may also be provided.

The opposed side walls l2 and 13 of cahana ll may be mere extensions of side walls l2 and 13, respectively. End wall 15 of Cabana l1 will then be interlocked with said side walls in lthe same manner as walls 14 and l5 of the pool surround. However, since it is desired to to bottom and extend normally malte the tloor or platform of said cabana of the same type of rail construction as previously described with reference to the side walls (except, of course, that they are horizont-ally rather than vertically spaced) it is convenient to use broader side rails 30 (see FIGS, 6 and 7) as wall elements of walls 15 and 15 immediately below the level of iioor -rails 31 of said floor or platform to provide support therefor.

To secure door rails 31 together they are similarly separated by horizontal spacers 32 which together with said rails are apertured proximate their ends to form a bore 19 through which bolt `19 extends and is tightened by nut 22. The end oor rails may contain recesses 33 and 34 to permit the countersinking of the bolthead and said nut. To permit the use of the same size bolt 19 as is employed in vertically securing side rai-ls 16 said floor rails 31 may be secured in a number of different sections which may merely rest `on broad side rails 3@ or be secured thereto (by conventional means not shown).

Should it be desired to erect a Cabana roof over said floor or platform, conventional corner posts 35 may be erected and secured to the structure described and roof elements (not shown) may likewise be erected between corner posts 3:5, A set of steps 35 may be positioned along side wall 12 to permit easy access to the Cabana platform. To further increase the utility of said steps they may be connected to the top of said wall -by a piano hinge 37 so that when the pool is not in use steps 36 may be pivoted away from the ground and upon said platform to make undesired access thereto more difcuflt. Alternately, when said caban-a is constructed with side walls between posts 35, a door opening D will, of course, be provided in the side wall S at the head of steps 36 which may then be closed by pivoting wall 38 of said steps to a closed-door position flush with the trim of the door opening D and locking the same in such position by conventional door-locking means.

ln FIG. 8 a modified form of the present invention is illustrated. Here the pool surround is hexagonal rather than rectangular. Side walls 39 of said surround are formed and connected in the same manner as side walls 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the first embodiment shown. Here, however, the second use for end tabs 25 is portrayed. Thus said ends are connected by ltie pieces 40, the end portions of such tabs and pieces being similarly apertured to permit their connection by bolts 19 screwed home into nuts (not shown). Such means add additional rigidity to the surround.

A canbana 41 may be added to the pool surround in the same manner as previously described except that in this instance it may be desired to mount the Cabana side walls 12 and 13 to tabs 25 of the side wall 39 forming the front of the lower Cabana structure.

It should be pointed out that the structures described are particularly well adapted to hygienic installations. The alternate rail walls permit air to circulate beneath a cabana and therefore enable the evaporation of moisture which falls to the ground through the slatted floors of the Cabana. In this connection the lfact that the oors of the cabana are slatted are themselves an advance in that water does not collect upon the Cabana floor making it slippery, but falls through the same, the floor drying out quickly `after use by bathers. Similarly, the side walls of the pool surround dry out quickly after wetting by reason of splashed water or by the elements.

In addition, the structure shown may be readily disassembled so that should an owner in a temperate climate desire to store the same during the cooler portions of the year he may easily take the structure apart. Similarly, the structure may be easily reassembled the next season. Again, the struc-ture permits the use of a variety of pool liners which are readily replaceable.

The structural rigidity of the pool surround is vastly enhanced by the incoporation of the feature which includes coping 28. Cop-ing 28 may be made of elongated boards which then serve to link, when properly affixed to top rail 16, parallel sections of the rail which interlock. This adds considerably to the resistance to lateral deformation by water pressure.

Manifestly, if it is desired to still further reinforce the structure then instead of a single coping 28 such as the board shown in the drawings, a set of vertically superimposed boards may be affixed atop the fence as shown. This will then serve as additional reinforcement.

Should the user desire to deepen the pool at one end all that is necessary to do is to malte an excavation at such end and in self-evident fashion, by causing the liner to cover the depression and extend over the edges of the pool surround, :a portion of the pool suitab'le for diving may be formed.

Although the `present invention has been described with a certain degree of particolari-ty, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous variations may be employed without transcending the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A pool surround including a continuous fence defining an enclosure said fence being regularly polygonal in outline and including linear sections of vertically spaced rails, the `rails of each linear section alternating with the r-ails of the adjacent linear sections and extending beyond the point of contact therewith to form extending corner tabs and rigid tie pieces affixed to and connecting marginal portions of -said corner tabs.

2. In a pool structure, a plurality of upwardly extending retaining walls connected together in fixed relation and being arranged for embracing pool lining means disposed within lthe confines of said walls, a pair of said walls being spaced from each other and provided with extensions extending outwardly from another of said walls and connected together at their outer ends, a cabane structure associated with said extensions and including a raised platform mounted adjacent said last mentioned wall and between said extensions, sides extending upwardly from said platform, a roof connected to said sides and mounted over said platform, at least one of said sides having a door opening, and a flight of downwardly extending steps pivotally connected to said platform in front of said opening 4and capable of being pivoted into said opening for closing the latter.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,198,475 OGorman Sept. 19, 1916 1,583,127 Curtis May 4, 1926 1,595,410 Leenhouts Aug. 10, 1926 1,753,427 Phillips Apr. 8, 1930 1,786,613 Hooper Dec. 30, 1930 1,907,053 Plath s May 2, 1933 2,406,413 Test Aug. 27, 1946 2,755,484 Hotz Y July 24, 1956 

